Pleases and Thank Yous and OMG A BOOK: ROW80 goals post, round 2

So this goals post is a week late. I said last Sunday that I was putting it off because of my surgical thinger on Monday (UPDATE: everything is fine, general anaesthesia is creepy, painkillers are kind of fun but I’m off of them now). That was true, but it wasn’t all of it. I was waiting to get stuff back from my editor, and I wanted to make sure his evaluation wasn’t going to be KILL IT NOW WITH FIRE AND EXTREME PREJUDICE before I made goals public.

Wouldn’t want to have to retract my goals now, would I?

Anyway…

This has the potential to be a huge round for me. I’m not going to lie, I might need you all to talk me down from an 8th-floor window ledge at least once, assuming I can find a building anywhere around here with eight floors.

Why? Because this round covers April 7 to June 26, and depending on how things go… no promises just yet… I might just have a book out by the end of this round.

LIKE A BOOK AN ACTUAL BOOK I MIGHT BE HOLDING MY WORDS IN MY HANDS IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS HOLY CARP.*

Pictured: Holy Carp.

I got the edits back, and they’re exactly what I had hoped for. My guy is a master of the “sh*t sandwich” technique. No punches pulled on things that need improvement, but some of what he said was so encouraging that I fell asleep smiling the night I got and read the (20 page) critique. When I read the line notes, I spent equal amounts of time slapping my forehead over silly little mistakes and grinning like an idiot because he totally got what I was going for so much of the time.

I’ll do a post on this experience later, because it was so interesting.

The important thing is that he had ideas on how to fix problems I already knew existed, and came up with suggestions that are really going to push this thing up to a whole ‘nother level.

I’m both excited and pants-crappingly terrified. It’s… different.

So what are we looking at over the next few months? A THRILLING roller-coaster of me working on that in a most professional manner and handling all of my other plans and responsibilities with the grace and aplomb of Martha Stewart organizing a dinner party, obviously.

*snerk*

But seriously. Professionalism is this round’s goal. Distance. This isn’t my baby anymore. It’s a product, and if I have anything to say about it, it’ll be a damned good one. I know I’m insecure about a lot of things, but I’m absolutely confident about that.

So, the goals. Please note that these could change and things could get pushed back. But:

Draft book three for JuNoWriMo if revisions on 2 are done. Otherwise, keep up with that and get to book 3 later.

This timeline terrifies me. I’ve been 100% sure I wanted to publish independently for almost a year, but the traditional-minded part of me is still screaming “YOU CAN’T DO IT THAT QUICKLY! SO WRONG!” I’m still amazed when I see authors post things like, “Well, finished a draft, guess I’ll release next month.”

Um… *hides under table*

Time to stop wussing out, though. This is my job now. As entrepreneurial ventures go, it’s a risky one. I just have to learn to be OK with that.

Now, before things get too crazy, I think I should take a minute to thank all of you. My WIPpeteers, my blog friends, my real-life friends who care and have encouraged me and put up with my “should-I-or-shouldn’t-I” crap, and especially those who have read my stuff… you’re all the reason I’m going ahead with this. Your love and encouragement have meant the world to me, and have given me the confidence to follow this dream. You’ve convinced me that this is a gamble that’s going to pay off (in satisfaction and experience, even if not in cash). Your advice and assistance have brought me this far. So thank you.

Anything else y’all think I should be doing to get ready?

Oh, and if you need to reach me privately about anything, my contact info is in the “About Me” tab.

—

*Not written like this. You’re welcome.

**Down to read.

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About Kate Sparkes

Kate Sparkes was born in Hamilton, Ontario, but now resides in Newfoundland, where she tries not to talk too much about the dragons she sees in the fog. She lives with a Mountie, two kids who take turns playing Jeckyll and Hyde, two cats, an intentional boxer and an accidental chihuahua. She's the author of the bestselling Bound Trilogy (mature YA Fantasy).
www.katesparkes.com
View all posts by Kate Sparkes

I’m actually going to get my ISBNs in my name, since I can get them free here if I submit to the national library thingy (I may be fuzzy on the details). I’m going to have a lot of hassle over tax issues with Amazon, so I’ll take every advantage I can living here. 😉

Wow. I’m so nervous-cited for you! (Pinkie pie says it’s a word!). You know I’m down for cover reveals, and Facebook parties. And buying your book. (I’d request an ARC but I know I’m terrible at getting feedback to people on time). You can do this. Just pull up your awesome socks and git ‘er done!

An author took a picture of her galleys that looked eerily similar to the one I received for my first book. Post-its on almost every page…very daunting! I’ve found with revisions, I have to take them a little at a time. I can’t sit down and try to do it all in one day. Most of it is usually small things, so it’s not so bad. Of course, the galleys were the fifth or sixth set of revisions…by the time our books come out, most of us never want to read them again!

It’s a lot of work for three months, yes, but it’s totally do-able, and, what’s more important is that it’s a goal with a clear end game and you’ve got a whole slow of people behind you supporting you. RoW80 helped me get my first book published, and I’m SO EXCITED to be here to cheer you on, too. I totally get the terrifying thrill; make sure to ride that energy as much as you can, because it will be a roller coaster, but you can’t get off, no matter how tempting it may be.

Read this bleary-eyed and coffee-deficient. I got to your HOLY CARP, and my brain transposed letter. You would’ve been tickled to see me squinting sidewise at the drawing, while I muttered….”uhhhh….fish Pope?

Eventuallly, all the letters sorted themselves out. HOLY CARP! So amusing, I almost spit coffee on my new computer!

Sign me up to read (and, although I’m not officially an editor, I am willing to point out any glitches I catch, and my eye can be petty good).

Sign me up to host you, and to come to your Facebook party.

And to cheer you on, suggest that you come OFF that ledge (cause ledges are SCARY, durn it!)and to learn all kinds of things from you as you move with the poise of a prima ballerina though the dance to publication!

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